Minutes:
A number of issues were discussed as other business.
Disabled Persons Day Centre
A resident enquired about facilities for disabled people now that the Fosse Day Centre no longer existed next to the Tigers’ ground. The Chair was unaware of the details of current disabled adult day provision and recommended that the resident leave her details with officers and a response would be provided.
Unauthorised Car Park - Former Leicester City Football Club Site
A resident expressed concern about the unauthorised car park which had opened on the site of the former Leicester City Football Club. This was causing a range of problems for residents, particularly with traffic on match days.
The Chair explained that the car park was set up illegally, but Planning Officers were not taking action immediately because the proprietor had indicated that they would be submitting a retrospective planning application to legitimise the car park. The Chair recognised residents’ concerns and undertook to follow the matter up if a planning application was not submitted and ensure that officers enforced a stop notice on the proprietor. Further if a planning application was submitted, all the Councillors undertook to oppose it on behalf of residents.
Residents raised further concern about flyposters advertising the car park in the local area. The Chair commented that this would be raised with the local City Warden to look into the problem.
Skatepark in Victoria Park
A resident enquired whether work had commenced on the skatepark planned for Victoria Park, as it was thought that work was due to commence in March. Francis Connolly had sought an update on this and was told that it would start in the spring. The Chair asked that the resident be provided with a detailed update.
Eastern Boulevard
A resident noted that there was demolition of a factory building taking place on Eastern Boulevard. It was queried what would be built in its place. The Chair reported that a planning application had been submitted for student accommodation.
Residents expressed a number of concerns that the area was becoming too heavily focussed on students and that this led to a poorer quality of life for long-term residents. The Chair commented that the Council had been overruled by the planning inspector where it had previously turned down student accommodation planning applications. There were rules set down by the government which allowed these applications to go ahead. DeMontfort University had also objected to a number of the developments by private developers near to their buildings.
The Chair asked that there be an item at the next meeting on Use Class Orders, which is legislation that was being brought in. This put further requirements on landlords to seek approval for rented houses of more than three people who were unrelated.
Allotment land between Aylestone Road / Saffron Lane
A resident expressed disappointment that a previous allotment site which was located between Aylestone Road and Saffron Lane had remained derelict for a number of years. It was thought that this land was previously allocated for a road that was never built. Previous tenants had been told to leave and there was no alternative sites in the local area.
The Chair agreed that there were no sites in the immediate area, but when the allotments were closed down originally, they weren’t as popular as they are now. He also commented that he could provide details, if requested, of a scheme run by St. Andrews Tenants Association which provided allotments on a site off Narbourough Road.
Grass Verge next to Tiger’s Way
A resident expressed concern about a patch of land adjacent to Tiger’s Way, which the Council had planted with bulbs, but these had been ruined by rugby fans parking on it.
Another resident informed the meeting that the Council had changed the status of the piece of land and were now able to ticket cars which parked on it. This had pretty much solved the problem.
Lettings Signs
Comments were raised about the problem of lettings signs blighting local streets because they were very common and were kept up outside houses for an unnecessary long time. The Chair agreed that this was a problem as it advertised student houses for potential burglars. He requested that this issue be included on the discussion on ‘Use Class Orders’ at the next meeting.